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StephN · 08-25-2008, 11:29 AM

My physician's assistant noticed my hands early last spring and I had lots of those cracks and a bandaid on right index finger.

I told her that this problem gets worse as winter goes on and then REALLY bad when I start my gardening (even thought I wear gloves). Seems to be the rubbing of the tool handles on my already tender skin - through the gloves.

Anyway she recommended CARMOL 20. It is WONDERFUL stuff. Available at most any pharmacy and not real expensive like a prescription. (A little goes a long way.)

It is 20% urea, hypoallergenic, contains NO parabens, lanolin or mineral oil. Also NO aloe for people like my Mom who is allergic to that.

It just vanishes into my hands and I can use it multiple times a day on the worst parts. If a split really opens and starts to bleed it gets the antibiotic ointment.

However, since I started using the Carmol, my hands are about good as new! And I am on continuous Herceptin, which I thought might be part of the problem, which I am now questioning.

So, now I will see how it works in the coming wintertime.

P.S. I have also been getting my Herceptin infused over 45 minutes for years now. It does make a difference in how I feel.

08-25-2008, 11:29 AM	#24
StephN Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Misty woods of WA State Posts: 4,128	Got Relief! My physician's assistant noticed my hands early last spring and I had lots of those cracks and a bandaid on right index finger. I told her that this problem gets worse as winter goes on and then REALLY bad when I start my gardening (even thought I wear gloves). Seems to be the rubbing of the tool handles on my already tender skin - through the gloves. Anyway she recommended CARMOL 20. It is WONDERFUL stuff. Available at most any pharmacy and not real expensive like a prescription. (A little goes a long way.) It is 20% urea, hypoallergenic, contains NO parabens, lanolin or mineral oil. Also NO aloe for people like my Mom who is allergic to that. It just vanishes into my hands and I can use it multiple times a day on the worst parts. If a split really opens and starts to bleed it gets the antibiotic ointment. However, since I started using the Carmol, my hands are about good as new! And I am on continuous Herceptin, which I thought might be part of the problem, which I am now questioning. So, now I will see how it works in the coming wintertime. P.S. I have also been getting my Herceptin infused over 45 minutes for years now. It does make a difference in how I feel. __________________ "When I hear music, I fear no danger. I am invulnerable. I see no foe. I am related to the earliest times, and to the latest." H.D. Thoreau Live in the moment. MY STORY SO FAR ~~~~ Found suspicious lump 9/2000 Lumpectomy, then node dissection and port placement Stage IIB, 8 pos nodes of 18, Grade 3, ER & PR - Adriamycin 12 weekly, taxotere 4 rounds 36 rads - very little burning 3 mos after rads liver full of tumors, Stage IV Jan 2002, one spot on sternum Weekly Taxol, Navelbine, Herceptin for 27 rounds to NED! 2003 & 2004 no active disease - 3 weekly Herceptin + Zometa Jan 2005 two mets to brain - Gamma Knife on Jan 18 All clear until treated cerebellum spot showing activity on Jan 2006 brain MRI & brain PET Brain surgery on Feb 9, 2006 - no cancer, 100% radiation necrosis - tumor was still dying Continue as NED while on Herceptin & quarterly Zometa Fall-2006 - off Zometa - watching one small brain spot (scar?) 2007 - spot/scar in brain stable - finished anticoagulation therapy for clot along my port-a-catheter - 3 angioplasties to unblock vena cava 2008 - Brain and body still NED! Port removed and scans in Dec. Dec 2008 - stop Herceptin - Vaccine Trial at U of W begun in Oct. of 2011 STILL NED everywhere in Feb 2014 - on wing & prayer 7/14 - Started twice yearly Zometa for my bones Jan. 2015 checkup still shows NED 2015 Neuropathy in feet - otherwise all OK - still NED. Same news for 2016 and all of 2017. Nov of 2017 - had small skin cancer removed from my face. Will have Zometa end of Jan. 2018.